Routes to Reuse report launched

 

The Local Government Association has published report ‘Routes to Re-use: Maximising value from re-used materials‘.

The report, produced by the LGA’s Reuse Commission, chaired by Cllr Clyde Loakes, follows on from 2013’s ‘Wealth from Waste’ and focuses on how the re-use option can be promoted when consumers are looking to purchase furniture and electrical items, and when they are looking to dispose of them.

The report estimates there to be over £400 million of untapped value in household waste material which could be extracted by increasing the amount which is re-used. In total 22 recommendations of how Government bodies, Local Authorities, Community groups, Waste companies and housing associations can encourage and increase re-use are made.

London Re-use are pleased to see that these encourage best practice pioneered by London Re-use and our members.

One recommendation is for electrical devices which are sold on to be accompanied with warrantees, thereby increasing consumer confidence. LRN members are now offering warrantees of up to 12 months on white goods and other electrical items.

The publication shines a light on the re-use sector. Route to Re-use show-cases London Re-use Network’s partnership with Waltham Forest and Ascham Homes re-using paint and furniture from Forest Recycling Project and ReStore Community projects.

The BBC Breakfast show, the UK’s most watched morning TV programme, which attracts an audience of nearly 7 million viewers, featured the Furniture Re-use Network on the morning the report was published (27th March).

Visiting Warwickshire Community Recycling’s warehouse, BBC presenter John Maguire described the re-use centre as a ‘real Aladdin’s cave’ of low-cost re-usable items.

You can catch up on a clip from the program by clicking here.